Collapsible reusable carton



July 6, 1965 R. A. GULLlcKsoN 3,193,176

GOLLAPSIBLE REUSABLE CARTON Filed March 17, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. mw l. muc/rsa famine Jly 6, 1965 R.,A. GuLLlcKsN 3,193,176

COLLAPSIBLE REUSABLE CARTON yFiled uarch 17, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arran/vifs* INVEN TOR. maf/fr ,4. muc/rmx United States Patent O 3,193,176 COLLAISIBLE REUSABLE CARTN Robert A. Gullickson, Cloquet, Minn., assigner to Weyerhaeuser Company, Tacoma, Wash., a corporation of Washington Filed Mar. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 96,581 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-41) This invention relates to a collapsible and reusable carton.

In the transportation of produce, it is usually desirable to use a heavy paperboard or corrugated board carton. If this carton is discarded after one shipment, the cost of transportation and consequently the cost of the produce is greatly increased. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a carton that can be reused a number of times before being discarded. Since the carton will normally be returned to its original point of shipment for reuse, it is also desirable that the carton be collapsible so as to use a minimum `amount of space during the return shipment.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a collapsible carton which may be reused a number of times.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a co1- lapsible carton having reinforced end members.

It is another object of this invention to provide a collapsible carton having end members that are integral with the base member.

These and other objects will become readily apparent upon a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the attached drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a blank for the preferred form of the carton.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a blank of a divisional insert for the carton.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of another form of blank for the carton.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the carton with pori, tions cut away to show details of construction.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are isometric views of the carton illustrating the method of collapsing the carton, again with portions cut awy to show details of construction.

Referring to FIGURE l, the numeral indicates the blank for the preferred form of carton 100. Blank 10 comprises a central portion having side extensions 30 hingedly connected thereto along score lines 4i). The blank is further subdivided by a pair of score lines 41 which divide central portion 20 into a base 21 and intermedate end wall members 22, and divide each of the side extensions 36 into an outer end wall member 31, a side wall 32, and an inner end wall member 33. Top end flaps 34 and top side flaps 35 are hingedly connected to wall members 31 and walls 32 along score lines 42. Each of the end walls has a hand hole 44 placed therein. These hand holes are in alignment when the carton is formed.

In forming the carton, the side extensions 30 are squared with respect to central portion 20. Inner end wall members 33 are turned inwardly until they are in alignment with score lines 41. Intermediate end wall members 22 are turned upwardly until they are contiguous with inner end wall members 33, and outer end wall members 31 are turned inwardly until they are contiguous with the intermediate end wall members 22. The end wall members are then stapled together to form end wall 5G as shown in FIGURE 4.

To properly align the members in end wall 50, it is necessary to provide separating cuts between the end wall members. As shown in FIGURE 1, while outer end wall members 31 need only be separated from intermediate Hee end -wall members 22 by slits 60, inner end wall members 33 must be separated fromthe intermediate end wall members 22 by slots 61 which allow end wall members 33 to be placed inwardly of end wall members 22. End wall members 33 also have notches 62 on theirlower edges to facilitate the collapse of the carton.

The carton is collapsed by folding the end walls inwardly and folding the base 21 outwardly alonga line that runs longitudinally and centrally of the carton. This line is defined by a series of score lines in the blank, such as the aligned vertical score lines in the end walls 50. As

shown in FIGURES l and 4, these Vertical score lines include pairs of score lines on inner end wall members 33, pairs of score lines 71 on intermediate end wall members 22 and the score lines 72 on outer end wall members 31 and top end flaps 34. For ease of folding, score lines 70 are farther apart than score lines 71. The line of folding is also defined by a longitudinal score line 75 on base 22.

From FIGURE 6 it may be seen that base 22 must have triangular infold sections, or bellows folds, which fold inwardly with the end walls 50 in order for the carton to collapse. These infold sections 80 are deiined by score lines 81, extending from the corners 25 of the base 21 to their intersection at score line 75, which bisect the angle formed by score lines 40 and 41 at corners 25. Score lines 81 are preferably equal in length so that sections 80 are isosceles triangles. The infolding of bellows sections 80 are facilitated by a series of transverse score lines 82, as well as notches 62 in inner end Wall members 33. The notches extend across score lines 70 to the edges of members 32 allowing the lower edges of end walls 50 to fold inwardly with bellows folds 80.

A pair of score lines 76, parallel to and spaced from score line 75, extend between score lines 81. Score lines 76 also facilitate the folding of the base 21.

In addition, a center divider insert such as insert may be provided for the carton. Insert 90 is of the Z-type and has two fastening panels 91 hingedly connected to two center panels 93 along score lines 92. Center panels 93 are also hingedly connected together at central score line 94. In use, the fastening panels 91 are stapled to the side walls 32 of the carton, and the center panels 93 fold along score line 94 to lay flat in the carton when the carton is folded. The insert also reinforces the carton.

In FIGURE 3 a blank 10 is shown. Since blank 10 is similar to blank 10, the same reference numerals are used on both blanks to denote the same parts. The difference between blank 10 and blank 10 is found in the scoring of base 21'. In blank 10' the longitudinal score lines in base 21 are continuations of score lines 71 in intermediate end wall members 22', and infold sections 80 are not transversely scored. Otherwise the two blanks are identical.

While specific details of preferred embodiments have been set forth above, it will be apparent that many changes and modiiications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will therefore be understood that what has been described herein is intended to be illustrative only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A carton comprising a base having upright side walls, and end walls comprising upright intermediate end wall members hingedly connected to said base,

outer end wall members hingedly connected to one edge of said respective side walls,

vertical score lines located centrally of said end wallsv Y,

members,

longitudinal Score lines for'medfin said 'base i6 align;

`ment vwith said score lines in said lend Walls,

bellows folds in said base adjacent said end wallsfsaidV folds being isosceles triangles* rhaving AVbasesY con tiguous with said end' wall connections;V said inner endvwall member havingI a`n0tch in 'Kits 'lower edge extending across said vertical score line carton.

Birnie etal. L 229-16 KondolfV 229-33 Lange 229-6 -Bixby 229-33 Van Wingen 229-33 Smith et al. 7229-41 X Trickett'et al. `229-41 X Wilcox 229-41 FRANKLlN T. GARRETT, PrimaryEkraminer.

which is adopted to facilitate the'collapse Vo'frsaid 15YEARLEI. DRUMMOND,.'Exezmnerr.v 

